1. CALL TO ORDER/ AGENDA CHANGES

President Breanna Zwart called the meeting to order at 5:03 pm. President Zwart announced that the next Commission meeting will be a special four-hour strategic planning meeting held on November 20 from 1 – 5 pm at the Open Square Conference Center, 100 Montgomery Street in the Presidio.

No Public Comment.

Action: To approve agenda.

m/s/c(Schwab-Pomerantz/Mesloh/Unanimous except for Absent: Shorter, Not Yet Arrived: Soo)

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

No changes to the minutes from the special Commission meeting on October 16, 2019.

No Public Comment.

Action: To approve draft minutes from Special Commission meeting on October 16, 2019

m/s/c(Mesloh/Andary/Unanimous except for Absent: Shorter, Not Yet Arrived: Soo)

3. Directors Report

Dr. Emily Murase provided four documents as part of the Director’s report. First, she shared a memo exploring sub-committees and their structure for the Commission. The next two documents showed budgets of City Departments, FTEs, and their Commissions percent of female members. Dr. Murase said that the Department’s budget will be discussed at the December Commission meeting and that these documents are intended to inform the budget discussion. For the final document titled “Women in the Workforce Fact Sheet”, Dr. Murase explained that the updated fact sheet was part of the economic Empowerment Fellowship and that it is a valuable resource for women both locally and nationwide. She reported that the fact sheet is a key deliverable as part of the Schwab Foundation funding from the Friends and will be shared and distributed at the Friend’s annual luncheon next week. President Zwart said that she wanted to discuss the sub-committee idea further with Dr. Murase before continuing the discussion with the Commission.

No Public Comment.

4. CONSENT AGENDA

Action: To approve the Consent Agenda.             m/s/c(Soo/Miry/Unanimous except for Absent: Shorter)

1. Resolutions Recognizing Journalists: Audrey Cooper, Jenée Desmond-Harris, Heather Knight, Marisa Lagos, Amber Lee, Portia Li, Carla Marinucci, Lyanne Melendez, and Tracey Ross

President Zwart explained that the Commission wants to honor the many journalists that have helped to uncover the stories that matter to the lives and well-being of women in San Francisco and the Bay Area. She said that in an era where the fourth estate is under increasing attack, it is important to support and honor the people who work to tell the truth and are so important to protecting the democracy. President Zwart reported that the Commission was naming nine women journalists and she also said that they want to acknowledge all of the hard-working press and reporters who go above and beyond the regular duties to keep the public informed about the good and bad of society.

President Zwart read the resolution for Tracey Ross honoring her for an unwavering commitment to bringing awareness to key public issues, including women’s issues.

Ms. Ross explained that she began writing as a young girl and has not stopped. She said that writing is a labor of love and that she felt very honored for the recognition of her work.

Commissioner Debbie Mesloh announced Heather Knight’s resolution extoling her work in San Francisco, including Ms. Knight’s podcast San Francisco City Insider.

Ms. Knight said she has been writing for the San Francisco Chronicle for 20 years. She said it is very important to her to not only go after the things that need to be fixed, but also to highlight what’s going right in the City.

Commissioner Mesloh read the resolution for Marisa Lagos. She said that Ms. Lagos has been a co-worker and friend, that Ms. Lagos is a truth-seeker, and that she has high journalistic principles.

Ms. Lagos said that she has been most proud of her Criminal Justice coverage and work, especially in the bail debate, and discussed how important it is for the voice and point of view of women to be included in such debates.

Commissioner Mesloh and Commissioner Julie Soo both spoke about the work, dedication, and caliber of the other women who could not make it to the meeting and were being honored by the Commission: Audrey Cooper, Jenée Desmond-Harris, Amber Lee, Portia Li, Carla Marinucci, and Lyanne Melendez. Commissioner Mesloh praised the journalists for their leadership and dedication.

No Public Comment.

2. CEDAW Human Rights Honorees

On behalf of the Commission, Vice President Miry announced the honorees for the 2019 CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Awards as Roberta Gonzales for the Media Award, Dolores Huerta for the Labor Award, Eleni Kounalakis for the International Comity Award, Antonia Lavine for the Anti-Violence Award, Michael Lambert for the Government Award, Linda Martley-Jordan for the Education Award, Teresa Mejia for the Community Building Award, Susan Stauter for the Culture Award, Juanita Tamayo Lott for the Social Justice Award, Katy Tang for the Mayor Edwin M. Lee Memorial Award, and Alaska Airlines for the Leadership Award. Vice President Miry noted that the recipients would be given their Commission Certificates of Appreciation at the CEDAW Awards Ceremony in November.

No Public Comment.

5. OLD BUSINESS

A.      Commission Strategic Planning Update Briefing

President Zwart introduced the upcoming Commission Strategic Planning meeting and said it was important for Commissioners to listen and learn from the expert team from Dalberg Advisors. She explained that the strategic plan process was very important for both the Commission and the Department, and that the Commission needs to reach alignment.

Shruthi Jayaram and Joe Dougherty the representatives of Dalberg Advisors, presented the first stage of the strategic plan. They suggested that there are three activities that the Department should keep and not change. They explained that the three activities are Violence Against Women Grants Management, City mandated activities, and providing support to other local city agencies. They said that there are five activities that need to potentially change and listed them as: how the Department conducts research, how the Department measures impacts, strengthen internal and external communications, invest in data systems, and create a “Opportunity for Impact” fund. Dalberg Advisors identified four options for the overall strategic direction and asked Commissioners to think deeply about these four options. They listed the four options in terms of the Department’s role as 1) Sector Builder (Eliminating Violence Against Women in San Francisco), 2) Systems Shifter (Ensuring a city government that works for women), 3) Catalytic Leader (Eliminating all forms of gender inequity), and 4) Bridge Builder (Building a better San Francisco for a better America). The Dalberg Advisors invited the Commissioners to ask questions and discuss the presentation and told them that their goal will be to choose an option and build out the image and plan to move forward at the November meeting.

Vice President Miry thanked Dalberg Advisors for presenting such a clear view of the work of the Department. She said that clearly the group needs to dig down on the four options and examine the implications closely.

Commissioners focused their discussion on emerging recommendations, measurement and impact, the need for expanded communications, and to identify ways to streamline Department reports.

Dr. Murase asked Commissioners to consider both their personal priorities and the Commission and Department’s mission, history and resources to maximize their impact at the November Strategic Planning meeting.

President Zwart said she would like a detailed accounting of mandated work the Department is required to do. She also asked Commissioners to consider and answer the question of where they would like to see the Commission and Department in the next 3-5 years at the Strategic Planning meeting.

Public Comment:

1. Tiffany Pham and Emily Liang, Student Pharmacists at University of California, San Francisco, asked the Commission to help increase access to maternal mental health screenings for perinatal depression.

6. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

No Public Comment.

7. ADJOURNMENT

Action: To adjourn.                                                 m/s/c(Soo/Andary/Unanimous except for Absent: Shorter)

Meeting adjourned at 6:49 pm.